Avoid common mistakes 90% of customers make when booking an outstation Tempo Traveller. Learn pricing, vehicle checks, and payment tips.
Common Outstation Tempo Traveller Booking Mistakes
Most customers unknowingly repeat the same mistakes while booking an outstation Tempo Traveller. In fact, nearly 90% of travelers face avoidable issues related to pricing, vehicle type, payment terms, or travel rules.
This guide is written to help you avoid those common mistake and make a safe, comfortable, and transparent booking decision for your outstation trip.
Whether you’re planning a family tour, group outing, corporate trip, pilgrimage, or long-distance journey from Bangalore, understanding these mistakes in advance can save you money, stress, and last-minute confusion.
90% of Customers Make These Mistakes When Booking an Outstation Tempo Traveller
1. Misunderstanding Outstation Tempo Traveller Pricing
One of the most common mistakes customers make while booking an outstation Tempo Traveller is misunderstanding how pricing actually works. Many travelers assume they only pay for the kilometers they travel, but outstation rentals are usually calculated on a minimum km basis, not pure usage.
Here’s what most customers are not aware of 👇
- Minimum km billing applies – Outstation Tempo Traveller charges are calculated on a minimum km per day. Even if you travel fewer kilometers, you are still billed for the minimum distance.
- Per-km rate applies only after minimum km – If your trip exceeds the minimum km limit, extra kilometers are charged separately at the agreed per-km rate.
- Driver bata is mandatory – Driver allowance (bata) is charged per day and is not adjustable against total trip kilometers or fare.
- Extra driver payment does not reduce trip cost – Paying the driver directly for food or personal expenses does not get deducted from your rental amount.
- Route or trip changes cost extra – Any route change, additional destination, or unplanned detour during the outstation journey may result in extra charges.
- AC Tempo Traveller costs more than Non-AC – AC Tempo Traveller have higher per-km charges due to fuel usage and maintenance compared to Non-AC vehicles.
- Toll, parking & interstate permits are extra – Even if you book an outstation package, toll charges, parking fees, and state permits are usually excluded unless clearly mentioned.
- Late-night travel may attract additional charges – Travel during late-night hours may involve night driving charges or driver halt charges, depending on safety policies.
2. Chasing Different Tempo Traveller Options Without Clarity
Another common mistake customers make while booking an Traveller is not clearly understanding the available seating configurations. Many travelers assume that every seat count (9, 10, 12, 14, 17 seater) is readily available in all vehicle types—but that’s not how Tempo Traveller fleets work in reality.
To avoid confusion and last-minute issues, here’s what you should know
- Force Tempo Traveller has limited standard seating options – In most fleets, Force Tempo Traveller is commonly available only as a 12-seater in its standard factory configuration.
- 9 or 10 seater requests are usually fulfilled using a 12 seater – When customers request a 9-seater or 10-seater Tempo Traveller, operators typically provide a 12-seater vehicle with fewer passengers for better comfort.
- 13 or 14 seater vehicles are often modified – Requests for 13 or 14 seater Tempo Travellers are usually met by modifying the standard vehicle and adding extra seats. This can affect legroom and luggage space.
- Luxury Tempo Traveller options are limited – In luxury variants, you will usually find only 9-seater or 12-seater luxury Tempo Travellers, designed for premium comfort rather than maximum seating.
- Force Urbania seating differs from standard Tempo Traveller – In Force Urbania models, common seating layouts are 9-seater and 17-seater, with improved interiors and ride quality.
- Seat count names are often used for convenience – Terms like 10, 11, 13, or 14 seater are often used for booking reference, not factory-built layouts.
- Always confirm the exact vehicle before booking
Ask the travel company for:- Actual vehicle model
- Seat layout photos
- Luggage capacity
- Confirmation if the vehicle is modified or factory-built
3. Not Verifying the Vehicle Condition Before Booking
Many customers focus only on the price and confirm the booking without asking about the actual vehicle condition. This is especially common during urgent bookings—and more often when ladies or family groups book an outstation Tempo Traveller. Skipping this step can lead to discomfort, safety concerns, and disappointment on long highway journeys.
Here’s what usually goes wrong—and how to avoid it
- Price-first booking without vehicle checks – Customers often book based only on the per-km rate, without checking the model, interior condition, or mileage of the Tempo Traveller.
- No clarity on vehicle age or maintenance – Not verifying whether the Tempo Traveller is well-maintained, highway-ready, or recently serviced can impact comfort and safety.
- Interior comfort is overlooked – Seat condition, AC cooling, legroom, and cleanliness are rarely asked about—but they matter a lot on long outstation trips.
How Arunodaya Travels Ensures Transparency
To avoid these common issues, we follow a clear and customer-friendly process:
- Actual Tempo Traveller photos shared – We share real vehicle images along with the model details and km run, so you know exactly what you are booking.
- Vehicle condition verified in advance – All Vehilce are checked for cleanliness, AC performance, seating comfort, and roadworthiness.
- Driver details shared one day before travel – For customer safety and confidence, especially for ladies and family travelers, we share driver name and contact details in advance.
- No last-minute vehicle surprises – What is confirmed is what arrives—no vehicle changes without prior approval.
4. Payment Issues & Unclear Advance Terms
Payment-related confusion is one of the biggest problems in outstation Tempo Traveller bookings. Many customers do not clearly understand advance payment rules, balance settlement timing, and fuel responsibilities, which later leads to disputes, trip delays, or vehicle stoppage.
To avoid misunderstandings, here is how payment terms actually work and why they are strictly followed.
Standard Payment Process for Direct Travelers
If you are booking and traveling yourself, the payment structure is simple and transparent:
- 5% booking advance is required to block the Tempo Traveller
- 50% payment at pickup location when the vehicle arrives
- This covers fuel cost + daily driver bata
- Fuel payments
- You can directly pay fuel expenses using cash or credit card at fuel stations
- Fuel paid by you is not payable again to the travel company
- Remaining balance
- Paid at the end of the trip after completion
This method ensures flexibility and fair billing for genuine travelers.
Payment Rules for Third-Party or Agent Bookings
If you are booking for friends, family, relatives, or as an agent, the payment policy is stricter:
- 5% booking advance at confirmation
- 50% payment at pickup location
- Remaining balance must be paid one day before the trip
- No end-of-trip payment allowed for third-party bookings
If the remaining amount is not cleared one day before travel, the vehicle will not proceed further or be assigned to another trip until payment is completed.
Why These Strict Payment Rules Exist
Arunodaya Travels follows these policies due to increasing payment fraud cases in recent times.
Common fraud scenarios we face:
- Someone books the Tempo Traveller, saying:
“Don’t ask the travelers for money; I will handle payment.” - They pay 50% to build trust
- After the trip:
- Calls are not answered
- Excuses like bank issue, network problems, and office delay
- Promises such as “I’ll pay tomorrow” are never fulfilled
- After dropping passengers at airport or railway station, payment is avoided
Unfortunately, nearly 90% of payment issues happen this way, causing losses and operational disruption.
Why This Policy Protects Everyone
- Prevents fraud and non-payment
- Ensures drivers are paid on time
- Avoids vehicle blockage mid-trip
- Maintains fair pricing for genuine customers
Builds long-term trust and service reliability
Final Advice
These are the most common mistakes customers make when booking an outstation Tempo Traveller. We’ve shared this practical, real-world information to help you book with confidence—not confusion.
- Understand minimum km, pricing, and driver bata clearly
- Choose the right Tempo Traveller or Force Urbania, not just by name
- Verify vehicle condition and seating layout in advance
- Confirm payment terms and balance timelines
- Get written booking confirmation for full transparency
Avoiding these mistakes ensures safe, comfortable, and stress-free group travel—with no hidden costs or last-minute issues.